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Manchester United were knocked out of the FA Cup after a 2-1 loss to Brighton, with goals from Brajan Gruda and Danny Welbeck. Shea Lacey was sent off late at Old Trafford.
Manchester United lost 1-2 to Brighton, suffer FA Cup exit (AP)
Manchester United’s troubles worsened as the managerless Red Devils were eliminated from the FA Cup following a 2-1 defeat against Brighton on Sunday.
Brajan Gruda gave Brighton the lead in the first half at Old Trafford, and former United striker Danny Welbeck scored after the break.
Benjamin Sesko’s late goal was not enough to prevent a third-round exit, compounded by United teenager Shea Lacey’s sending off in the final moments.
How Manchester United Lost To Brighton?
United were met with jeers from furious fans following another disappointing result in a troubled season.
Caretaker boss Darren Fletcher has been unable to halt the decline since Ruben Amorim’s unexpected sacking on Monday, with United now looking to appoint an interim manager until the season’s end.
Former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and decorated ex-midfielder Michael Carrick have both been linked with the temporary role. However, despite United’s storied history, the current chaos at Old Trafford makes it an unappealing job for any high-profile manager.
Welbeck, 35, was at United when they last won the Premier League title in 2013 under Alex Ferguson, who watched the Brighton debacle from the directors’ box, highlighting how far the club has fallen from the Scot’s golden era.
Currently a disappointing seventh in the Premier League, United are without a win in four games and have only managed one victory in their last seven matches.
This poor form is unlikely to improve soon, with United hosting Manchester City next weekend before travelling to Premier League leaders Arsenal on January 25.
After a humiliating League Cup loss to fourth-tier Grimsby in August, United have exited both domestic cups at the first hurdle for the first time since 1981-82.
Brighton, avenging their 2023 FA Cup semi-final loss to United, have now won on four of their last five visits to Old Trafford.
United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo started for only the second time this season as Fletcher benched Casemiro in one of three changes from the midweek 2-2 draw at lowly Burnley.
Albion keeper Jason Steele made fine saves to deny Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes early on.
Brighton capitalised on these escapes to take the lead in the 12th minute.
Welbeck’s incisive run and cross found Georginio Rutter, whose header was cleared off the line by Lisandro Martinez before Gruda scored past Senne Lammens from close range.
United were in disarray, and chants against co-owners Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family echoed around Old Trafford.
Fernandes sent a free-kick wide, and Matheus Cunha was narrowly off-target as United trudged off to boos at half-time.
Mainoo was substituted in the second half after a lacklustre display that did little to counter Amorim’s decision to overlook him for much of the season.
United’s problems extend beyond just Mainoo, and Brighton punished their shambolic defending to double the lead in the 64th minute.
Gruda had time and space to find Welbeck in the area, and he struck an exquisite shot past Lammens, turning the atmosphere even more toxic.
Sesko set up a frenetic finale by heading home from Fernandes’ 85th-minute corner.
But United couldn’t muster a late comeback, and Lacey, already on a booking, fittingly ended a painful defeat by being sent off for throwing the ball away in frustration.
More to follow…
January 12, 2026, 00:03 IST
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